Athletic Field Options Outlined

The Pennridge School Board last night heard five options for athletic fields at South Junior High School that range from doing nothing to spending $975,000.

Architect Fred Diseroad of Diseroad and Wolff, Hatfield, said his firm has developed five schemes for placing soccer-size playing fields at South which already has the high school football field.

As has been previously mentioned, Diseroad said the district could place three fields behind the school and football field. However, that would mean clearing woodlands and disturbing wetlands and slopes in Perkasie. Since the borough has ordinances regulating disturbances in those environmentally sensitive areas, the district would need to go before the zoning hearing board for approval.

Diseroad said he met with the borough's Planning Commission last week and the members indicated they wouldn't support any plan that violates Perkasie's ordinances.

The option, estimated at $600,000, has the advantage of not requiring additional land. Among the disadvantages are the fields not being close to the gym and that the district needing to go through a lengthly approval process with the state Department of Environmental Resources and the Army Corps of Engineers for the wetlands.

The next idea, which would cost nothing, involves adding no fields and keeping the football field at South.

The third plan would move the football field behind the high school complex and putting the three fields in that area. That option, estimated at $915,000, also would give the district more flexibility in adding onto South. Diseroad said the wetlands area could be used as a jogging path or nature trail.

For $60,000, the district could keep the football field at South and attempt to acquire adjacent land from the Perkasie Owls for two playfields.

The most expensive option proposes moving the football field to the high school and putting in the three fields at that area and also acquiring the Owls' property for two more fields. Those costs are $175,000 for the junior high fields, $505,000 for the new football field and $295,000 for new field buildings.

While the study calls for the football field to be moved to an area off Blooming Glen Road, another option would be for the athletic area to be put on Ridge Road, on land being acquired by East Rockhill Township for a park.